Like so much of cat behaviour, no one really understands what’s going on.
Big cats, such as lions and tigers, also butt-shimmy before pouncing, so it’s a behaviour that our domestic felines must have inherited from their wild cat ancestors.
One theory is that it presses the hindlimbs into the ground, giving the cat more traction to propel it forwards when it pounces.
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It could also be a warm-up move to ready the muscles or heighten the senses, or it could be a sign of excitement.
Or all of the above. Or something else entirely. That’s cats for you!
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Stephen Long, Wallasey) 'Why do cats wiggle before pouncing?'
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